59 PERCENT OF WISCONSIN VOTERS APPROVED IT - TODAY
THE A-C-L-U FILED A FEDERAL LAW SUIT TO OVERTURN IT.

WISCONSIN'S BAN ON GAY MARRIAGE WAS
PASSED BY VOTERS IN A 2006 REFERENDUM.

BUT AS NEWS 3 REPORTER DAVE DELOZIER TELLS US -
THE A-C-L-U NOW SAYS THAT LAW VIOLATES THE U-S CONSTITUTION.

well i saw katy and sort of had love at first sight.

1 VO/MINI-DISCW1 55

AND FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS THEIRS HAS
BEEN A RELATIONSHIP PERFECT- IN EVERY WAY BUT ONE.

1 SOTW2 51

well i have to say i think our relationship is
exactly what we want but the recognition of that relationship
through marriage is what we'd reallty like to see happen.

2 VO/MINI-DISCW3 55

THAT OPTION WAS REMOVED WHEN VOTERS RATIFIED
A 2006 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN WISCONSIN DEFINING
MARRIAGE AS BETWEEN ONE MAN AND ONE WOMAN.

THAT AMENDMENT EVEN MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR A
COUPLE TO LEAVE WISCONSIN - GET MARRIED IN
A STATE THAT RECOGNIZES GAY MARRIAGE AND THEN RETURN.

TODAY THE A-C-L-U FILED A FEDERAL LAW
SUIT SAYING WISCONSIN'S LAW VIOLATES THE U-S CONSTITUTION.

2 SOTW4 51

the climate in this country, i think people are starting to recognize i think we
are achieving the point at which a majority is starting to see this is the
right thing to do and we feel that wisconsin should be part of that conversation..

SOT

SOT

we took great pains with the wording of our
amendment to put a strong amendment in place in
2006 so we think we are still well positioned.

you know no one can stop
other people from filing a law suit.

this is america.

3 VO/MINI-DISCW6 55

THE LAW SUIT IS BEING FILED IN THE NAME OF
FOUR WISCONSIN COUPLES - INCLUDING KATY AND JUDI - SOMETHING
THE MADISON COUPLE SAY THEY THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT.

3 SOTW7 51

we both thought about it and decided it was the right thing for us
to do as a couple and we're both in love and we hope we
change it, not only for us but for many other couples in the state.

DAVE --WA4 5036

THE A-C-L-U HAS HOPES THE FEDERAL COURT
WILL HEAR THE LAWSUIT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

BUT AN ATTORNEY WORKING ON THE CASE CONCEDES
THAT - WITH APPEALS - THIS
CASE IS LIKELY DESTINED FOR THE U-S SUPREME COURT.

Four couples named in the American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit against the state argue the ban violates the Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution and doesn't serve any compelling or legitimate government interest.

One of the couples named in the lawsuit lives in Madison.

The lawsuit states Judith Trampf and Katharina Heyning have been together 24 years and want to marry in Wisconsin. Both work at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The couple included a story in the lawsuit of an occasion when they were on a trip and Heyning had a medical emergency and was unconscious. They said Trampf was unable to direct Heyning's care.

A domestic partnership law was passed in 2009, but the lawsuit states the law is facing a legal challenge and is not a substitute for marriage.

The ACLU said the couples allege the state’s constitutional marriage ban, "sends a message that lesbians, gay men and their children are viewed as second-class citizens who are undeserving of the legal sanction, respect, protections and support that heterosexuals and their families are able to enjoy through marriage."

Julaine Appling, president of the Wisconsin Family Council, said she is confident the Wisconsin law will be upheld by the courts.

“We took great pains with the wording of our amendment to put a strong amendment in place in 2006, so we think we are still well positioned. You know no one can stop other people from filing a law suit. This is America,” Appling said.

Gay marriage is now legal in 17 states plus the District of Columbia.

“The climate in this country, I think people are starting to recognize that we are achieving the point at which a majority are starting to see this is the right thing to do and we feel that Wisconsin should be part of that conversation,” said Larry Dupuis, legal director of the ACLU of Wisconsin.